The Hindu Business Line : Cotton output may surpass initial estimates

COTTON production during the current season to September is likely to be 179.46 lakh bales (of 170 kg), surpassing the Cotton Advisory Board's projection of 169 lakh bales. This may be reflected in the board's final tally to be released during the first week of September. This includes 13 lakh bales of Bt cotton.

Central Institute for Cotton Research sources told Business Line that the dry spell did not have a negative impact on production.

"It is not just production. Our average productivity has touched a record 400 kg of lint per hectare, which is quite unbelievable," the sources said.

Cotton's productivity has for a long time hovered around 322 kg of lint/hectare. Scientists have been trying their best to increase the productivity, which was far below the world average and just around 50 per cent of Pakistan's productivity, which is marginally over 600 kgs of lint/hec.

A closer look at the State-wise production figures shows a marginal increase of 5 lakh bales in the North Zone, comprising Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, from the estimated 29 lakh bales to 34 lakh bales, while in Gujarat it has touched 52 lakh bales (up by 6 lakh bales).

The official tally for Maharashtra has been put at 32 lakh bales, with the rest coming from Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to take the total to 179.46 lakh bales.

The North Zone cotton belt, which is generally dominated by desi cotton varieties, witnessed a shift with the growers opting for hybrids. "Unlike in the past, the spread of hybrid cotton (cultivated in 12 per cent of the cotton area) has been visible in this belt. This year, the area under hybrid cotton has more than doubled to cover 35 per cent of the cotton area," the source said.

The total area covered by the crop has been put at 76.14 lakh hectares.